Hand-rest



(No Model.)

H. F. KRETZER.

HAND REST.

No. 405,781. Patented June 25, 1889.

WITNESSES: INVE/VTOH:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY FRANK KRETZER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

HAN D- REST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 405,781, dated June 25, 1889.

Application filed November 1O l 1888. $erial No. 290,431. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY FRANK KRE'TZER, of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have i11- vented a new and Improved Hand-Rest, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Myinvention relates to an improvement in hand-rests especially adapted for use in ban king and commercial houses by the book-kecpers, collectors, and exchange-clerks, and has for its object to provide a device combining a book-keepers hand-rest, a ruler, a paper, draft, and check cutter, a pen-extractor, a foot-rule, and a square; and the further object of the invention is to provide a hand-rest light in weight, of simple construction, and convenient for manipulation.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to behad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a perspective view of the device applied to a book as a ruler. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the device, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 50 cc of Fig. 2.

The rest consists of a flat body A, of any suitable material, hard rubber or metal being preferred, and of greater length than width.

The end B of the body, which, for conven ience, I denominate the outer end, is of greater width than the opposite end B, and the outer longitudinal edge B is curved or inclined at or near the center, as illustrated at B whereby the enlarged end is connected with the smaller end, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The opposite longitudinal edge B of the body is straight, and likewise the extremities.

In the enlarged surface, near the irregular edge, an opening 0 is formed, preferably oval in contour, adapted to receive the thumb of the manipulator, and in the outer edge, at any desired point, two spaced notches a are produced, and the surface between the notches is convexed, as shown at a. The convex surface and notches are adapted to accommodate a pen, and the pen when placed in position is held in contact with the edge by a latch o pivoted upon the under face of the body, provided with a concave recess a registering with the convexity a. Thus, when a pen is placed in contact with the convexity a and is clamped thereto by pressure upon the latch, the said pen may be readily and quickly extracted from the holder.

Upon the upper surface of the body at the straight edge B a rule-scale D is produced, usuallyindicating a foot, and the face of said edge is beveled, as shown at (Z in Figs. 2 and 3, whereby a cutting-edge is obtained. The said beveled surface also facilitates ruling when the straight edge is utilized for that purpose, and to further facilitate ruling a rib E is formed longitudinally upon the under side of the body adjacent to the straight edge, usually consisting of an attached angle-strip, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and Instead of the angle-strip illustrated, spaced lugs or projections may be substituted, of any approved construction, or, if desired, a rib may be employed triangular in cross-section.

In using the rest at the bottom of a page the rib or projection is utilized to determine the bearing of the body upon the leaves by bringing the face of the rib, lug, or projection in contact with the lower edges of the leaves.

It will be observed from the foregoing construction that the device may be manufactured in a light and convenient form and at little cost, and that it may be employed as a check or paper cutter, a rule, a ruler, a handrest, and a pen-extractor.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. In a hand-rest, the combination, with the flat body portion having notches produced in one end, of a latch pivoted beneath the notched end, provided with a recess adapted to register with the surface of the body between the notohes, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a hand-rest, the combination, with a flat body portion, of an angular rib attached to the under side of.the body portion a short distance from its longitudinal edge and parallel with the same, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a liandn'est, the combination, with a flat body portion of greater width at one end than at the other and provided with one straight longitudinal edge beveled upon the under side, and notches produced in one end, the surface between which notches is convexed, of a latch pivoted beneath the notched end, provided with a semicircular recess adapted to register with the'convex surface of the body, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a hand-rest, the combination, with a flat body portion of greater width at one end than at the other and provided with one straight edge beveled upon the under side and a thumb-opening, of arib-like projection upon the under side of the body parallel with the straight edge, substantially as shown and described.

5. As an improved article of nianufacturaa v HENRY FRANK KRETZER. Witnesses:

PATRICK BRADLY,

F. W. MoTT. 

